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j I July 17, .1923.

. Re. 15,659 T. I. DUFFY SPRING SUSPENSION ori inal Filed NQV- 1, 1915 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Jul 17, 1923. Re. 15,659

T. l. DUFFY SPRING SUSPENSION Original Filed Nov. 1, 1915 2 Sheets-Sheat 2 a Rested July "17, le'z i v l 1 mm srncmmrnsMANUFACTURING comrANY, on ST." aosnrn, mrcnrsai A 1 1} conronmroit or oanrrormm.

. srnme sosrnnsron.

original no. 1,21a,7e1, dated January as, 191?,"Seria11io. 58,996, filed November 1 isis. y reissue filed December 10,1918; Serial No. 266,167. v

' T :v1 h i ma/ concern: 1 1

Be it known that I, THoMAs- I. DUFF-Y, a citizen of theUnited States, and a resident 9 r 0f, Chicago,v in the county of Cookand State o ;of Illinois, have invented certain new and 'fueeful Improvementsv in Spring Suspen-' v sions; and I do hereby declare that thefolv lowingjis a full, clear, and exact description;

. thereofyreference being .had to the accompanying drawings, and to the characters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of "this specification."

a This invention relates to improvements in spring sus nsion forvehicles and refers 1 more speci cally to-th'at type of spring suspension which is so constructed and arranged as to absorb minor shocks or vibrations, which are toov small vor too fast to be absorbedby the main or leaf spring and also to means tolabsorb or neutralize the recoil 1 action of the riding spring.

A purpose of theinvention'is to provide ,a simple device which may be appliedn to standard sprin s, and, when so applied, constitute means %or absorbin the lighter -vibrationsiinposed onthe ri in ,sprin and also for absorbing or neutra rzing t a re bound or recoil action of the spring. I 1 Other objects of the inventionare to fim a0 prove and sim' lify spring suspension for vehicles, and t e invention'consists inthe combination and arrangement" of the parts shown in the drawing "describedfin the specification, and is pointed. outin the ap- 36 pended claims.

I have herein shown improved spring I mounting as appli bn smi7eHiptica1 spring of the Ford type, and also to a'three .v Quarter ellipticalspring, butit is to be unerstood that the essential principles of my 1 inventiofn are capable of adaptation to other t so springs' i shown in the drawings: t

v "Figural is apartial side elevation and 4 partial section showing the adaptation of my invention to a front spring of the Ford I igure 2 -is a; similar view showing the Application for adaptation-of my improvementsto a spring' of the'Ford type. I

Figure 3 is a cross section of Figure 1. y

e k igure' 4-;isa section on line of ure 2. v Y Figure 5 is a planview of device shown in Figure 1.

onithei linem FIC ' irnom's I: DUFFY,-0F CHICAGO, rumors, ASSIGNOB; nY MnsNn Assrsnmnn'rswro Figure 6 is a fragmentary view of ailother form of spring showing the adaptation of my improvements thereto. a a

As shown in Figures land 20f the drawings, 10 designates the frontaxle and 11 the rear axleof vthev'ehicle. 1 2 designates the front spr ng and 13 the :rears ringthereof'.

Said springs are semi-elliptica and arranged longitudinally over the axles.

I First referring to the arrangement of the front spring mounting, 14 designates a perch which-is ,carried. by the front axle; one at each end thereof, and which," in certain standard types of spring mounting, are inelined inwardly to support the ends of the spring 12 through the medium of shackles. In adapting "my improvements to'the t pe of spring shown in Figure 15 the 'perc cs 14 are reversed so as to incline toward the outer ends of the axle. 17 designates a leverwhich is formed at its outer end .witha yoke 18 which pivoted to the. upstanding perch by means ,ofa; shackle bolt 19. Theyinner end of] said" I lever extends inwardly over the spring 12 and is carried. by a support that is movable relatively to the spring, so that said inner end 'of thelever is capable of "movement relatively to the, spring, longitudinally thereof. As herein shown, the inner end of the lever 17 is formed with a yoke20, the downwardly turned arms of which fit over the sides of thefspring 12.

Said yoke arms are connected below i the spring by a bolt 21 which is adapted to bearonthe under side of, themaster leaf of the 5 spring Said yoke is shown as provided with a recess 22 to receive a plunger 23 which bearsupon theupper, leaf of the spring 12 and'is pressed thereon throughj the action of a spiral spring 2 that isarranged within a shock absorbing device.

the chamber, between said plunger and the upper wall of the recess and surrounds said stem 25. This construction provides means for maintaining a clamping pressure of the yoke on the spring, regardless of the slight changes in the dimensionsof the spring with which the yoke contacts due to endwise movement of the spring relatively to the yoke. p

The lever 17 is provided between its ends with a ring shaped support 28 which receives the lower open edge of a'casing 29 of sorbing device may be made of any suitable type. As herein shown, it comprises, in com bination with said casing, a stem or rod 30. provided at its upper end with a heador follower 31, between which and the lower With the construction described itiwillbenoted thatthe Weight of the load of the vehicle is transmitted to the front axle through the medium of both the main spring 12 and the auxiliary or shock absorbing spring 35 and that the arrangement is such that the lesser loads and minor shocks or vibrations thrown upon the spring suspension are taken care of and absorbed by said auxiliary spring 35, while 'the heavier loads and the larger vibrations are transmitted through the auxiliary spring to the main spring 12.

The shackle bolt 19 constitutes a fixed pivot for the lever 17 while the yoke connection 20 at the inner end of the lever with the spring 12 or equivalent connection with the springing elements is a floating connection; and the endof the spring 12 is suspended at a distance from its connec} tion with its floating connection by the auxiliary spring 35. It will be observed furthermore that when a full load is thrown on the spring suspension and the main spring 12 flexes or straightens, the

inner end of the, lever 17 shifts relatively to the longitudinal axis of the spring 12 or equivalent springing element, due to the swinging movement of saidlever '17. When the load is released the/transfer of the loading from the spring 35 to that portion of the spring 12 inwardly beyond its end serves to retard the rebound orrecoil action of the spring and to absorb or neutralize such recoil action of the main spring. Fur-,

thermore, the movement of the lever 17 relatively to the fixed pivot 19 thereof, its floating connection relatively to the springing support, and the connection of the main spring 12 with the auxiliary spring 35 is such as to maintain the plunger or stem 36 in proper relation to avoiding binding of Said shock ab-.

the relatively movable parts upon each other and consequent irregular action. The

arrangement shown, therefore, produces an exceedingly smooth, delicate spring action.

.In the adaptation/of my improvements to'therearspring, the lever 40, which takes the place of the lever 17 associa't'ed with the frontv spring, isconnected byva shackle bolt il with an upstanding perch which is fixed to the adjacent brake caseby means of a screw threaded lug 43 in the manner indicated in Figure 2. The inner end of the lever is provided with a yoke 45, the arms of-which fit downwardly alongside of the spring and are connected at their ends by a pin or bolt 46 which bears onthe lower face of themaster. leaf of the spring The said yoke 'is' also provided with a spring pressed plunge-r 47,"which* acts in the manner of the plunger 23 before; re-

ferred to to maintain a reliable clamping? engagement of the yokeon-the spring for the. purposes "hereinbefore ,set forth". 'Said lever 40 is provided between'its endswith a' ringlike support 50to receive'the lower end ofthe casing 51 ofan auxiliary spring;

or shock absorbing device, the plunger 52 of which is provided with a yoke 53 that'is pivoted to the spring eye 54 of therear spring 13 b-y'means of a shacklebolt 55.

The operation of the device .thus described is essentially the same .as the device-shown in connection with the 1 front spring, the structural diflerences being made necessary-only by reason of the different rangementfthe yoke *62 of the plunger'of the auxiliarysp'ring or shock absorber is connected by a shackle bolt 63" to the eye 64 of the'lowerspring member (fl -Onev end of the lever 65, corresponding to the lever "17 shown in Figure 1, is pivoted-by a shackle bolt 66 to the eye 67Of the up- "manner of fastening the sprin-g'to'theaxle.

per orv scroll merribe r'. 60 of the -spring.

The other or inner end of the lever 65' is connected to the lower member 61;offthe spring by means of a. clamp yoke 68 madeessentially'llike the clamp yokes' shown in the figures hereinbefore described) The operation ofthe spring suspension as applied to this type of springis essentially the same asthat applied to the type of spring shown in Figures 1 and 2, the auxiliary spring being relied upon to take the lighter loads and absorb the lighter, vibrations brought uponfthe spring'suspension. and the main spring member being relied upon to take the heavier loads" and vibrations. In the construction shown in Figure 6, the outer end of the lever which carries' tl'ie aiixi'liary or absorbing device'jterminates closely adjacent to the case in'g69 for the auxiliary spring so that the improved device may be attachedto stand-;

ard spring arrangements without variations of the spring dimensions.

As-"bfore stated, it is to be understood that the essential principles of my improvements may be adapted toother types, of spring suspensions [used in connection with other means of connecting the spring to the chassis and bodyof the vehicle within the spirit and scope of the claims herea to appended, In theieinployment of my in vention with a spring mounting whichembraces a scroll body or dumb iron similar a thegupper leaf 60 of the suspension shown in. Figure 6, the auxiliary or shock;

absorbing device may be installed in the same general manner as shown in said figure. In the construction shown and suggested,

the swinging leverof the springsuspension (1 7, 40, and is hinged to are atively fixed part, as theperches 14, 42 shown in Figures 1 and 2, and the lug shown in Figure 6, while the other orinner end is connected to a support that is movable relatively v to the associated spring and vehiclelbody, being: in the illustrative instance movably connected by a clamping yoketo'the spring member with which it is associated a dis} 1* tance from the inside of the end of said spring member and the endof said spring member being pivotally connected, to i the auxiliary spring. It. will beunderstood that theclampingiaction on thespring due to thefclamping yokes described, is not sufiicient in the normal positions of the parts of the spring suspension to prevent fairly easy movement of the main spring relatively to the yoke, the spring" 2 and punger' 23 being relied upon mainly as anti-rattling de- ViCS. Therefore, the. frictional engagement of the clamping parts does not substantially restrict free movement of the partsn so thatv .the lesser loads and minor vibrations are efliciently transmitted to and absorbed by the auxiliary sprin The invention is,

therefore, not limite to the details illustrated-except as hereinafter made the sub-f jectof specific claimsor as imposed by the prior art, For instance, the means for sup- I porting the inner end of the cantilever may i spring, whereby it is movable relativelyto be varied as by movably supporting or sus-. pending said lever from the 'body or said the spring and body. Furthermore," it is the'intent to claim all of inherent novelty shown in the drawings and desc'ribedin so I the specification. v y Y i I claim as my invention:v

1. A spring suspension for vehicles comprising the combination with the main spring and its support, of a lever pivoted at one end to said support, means; movable prising, 7 spring and a supporting bracket therefor, y 1 5 spring and relatively a the said support to which a other end of the lever is connected, and a;

resilientconnection directly between an end a z of saidflever and said main spring and constituting the sole support for said end of the ma n spring.

, 2. A spring prising the combination with the main spring and its support, of a vlever pivoted' to'said support and overlapping said main spring, a springover and movable relativelyto said fmainspring, said lever being'connected to said support, and an auxiliary spring carried between the ends of said lever and connected directly to, and constituting the sole support. for, an-end of the main spring. Y

A spring suspension for vehicles comprising, the combination with the main spring and a supporting bracket therefor, of a lever pivoted to said bracketand extending inwardly beyond the end of the mainspring, means movable relatively to suspension for vehicles comthe said support by which 'the inner end of the lever issupported, and a resilient member carried by said lever and constitutingthe sole supportfor the end of said mainspring.

4. A spring sus ension for vehicles c omthe com "ination" with the main of a lever pivoted to said bracket and extending inwardly beyond the end of the main spring, supporting means movable relatively to the said support by which th inner end of the lever is supported, and a spring seated on said lever between the ends ofthe latter and connectedto and constituting the solesupport for the end of the main spring. e 1,

5., A spring suspension for vehicles comprising, the combination "with the main spring and a, supporting bracket therefor,

of a lever, pivotedto said bracket and extending inwardly" beyond the end of the main spring, supporting means movable relatively to thesaid support by which the inner end of the lever is supported, a coiled springseated on said lever, and-a hanger connected to said spring and the main constituting the sole support for thelatterpy v 6. A spring suspension for vehicles comprising, in combination "with the main spring andits support, of a lever pivoted to said support and movably engaging I the main spring betweenthe ends of the latter, and an auxiliary spring carried between the ends of the lever and connected to and affording the sole} support for the main spring. i

7. A spring-suspension for vehicles comprising, in combination -with the main spring and its support, of a lever pivoted to .said support and movably engaging the main sprlng vbetween the ends of the latter, I

and an auxiliary-spring supported on and carried between the ends, of the lever; and pivotally connected to and afiording the sole support for the end of the mainspring.

8.,A shock absorber and anti-recoil de-.-

vice for vehicle springs, comprising ,in combination with a main spring and its support, of a lever hinged at one end to the said support and sustained at its other end by means movable relatively, to said sup port, and a'spring carried by said lever to constitute the sole support for an end of the main spring and tovtransmit initial minor road shocks through the main spring to said 9. A shock absorber and anti-recoil ode vice for-vehicle springs, comprising, in combination with ,amain spring and its support, of a lever hinged to said support, and endwise lapping an end of thespring, and sustained at its other endby means movable relatively to said support, and anauxiliar v initial shock spring carried by saidlever and Connected directly to said main spring ,to ,unrestrainedly absorb initial shock absorbing and recoil stresses} c 10, The combination with'a main spring of a vehicle and its support, of means connected between the spring and said support in lieu of and unrestrained by the usual spring shackle, saidmeans embracing an auxiliary spring connected directly to said main spring, and lever means supporting said auxiliary spring and hinged at one end to said supportand connected to a part mow able relatively to said support, and adapted to transmit shock absorbingrand recoil check stresses tosaid auxiliary spring in one and the same direction of movement of said auxiliary spring. v

11. In a spring suspension for vehicles, a main spring, a lever pivoted at one end to a relatively fixedsupport, a-clamping yoke absorbing and anti-recoil at the other end ofthe lever movably engaging, the spring inside its end, an auxiliary spring supported on the lever between the ends of the latter and aplunger connected tothe auxiliary'spr'ing and pivoted to the end of the main'spring. I

,12. In a spring suspension for vehicles, a

main" spring provided at oneend with, an

eye, a support for the spring, a lever,.,p ivotediat one end "thereof to said support and extending inwardly beyond the outerend of said spring, means movable relatively to said springto supportthe inner end ofsaid lever, an auxiliary springsuppOrted on said lever and a plunger connectedto said spring and pivoted to sald eye of the ma n. spring. 1 3. Ina spring suspension for veh1cles,.a

maln spring a lever pivoted at one end thereof to a relatively fixed support, a clamping yoke carried by the, other end of,

thelever, the arms of which engage over the sides of said spring with across pin connecting the ends of said arms whereby the lever may be removablyattached to the main spring, an auxiliary spring supported on the lever at its pivot end and a plunger connected to, the'auxiliary spring and; pivoted to theendofthe main spring. 5

'14. "In a spring suspensiondfor vehicles, a main (spring, a lever, pivotedjat [one to ai'elatively fixed support, a clamping yoke at the other; end of the lever movably engaging the spring, said, lever a being provided between "its" ends with a ring-like frame, a casing supported on the ring-like frame, a plunger slidable in the casing and provided at oneend with ahead, a spring between the head atnd thenlower endof the casing and means to cennect the I plunger to the end ofthe mainspri'ng."

Chicago,Illinois, November 1$th,191 8. f THoMAsjI, DUFFY- 

